ब्रह्मणः सृष्टिशक्तिस्त्वं स्थितिशक्तिर्मधुद्विषः
You are the creative power of Brahma, and the sustaining power of the enemy of Madhu.
यशोदानंदजाता त्वमेकानंशेति नामतः
You are called Ekānanshā, born as the joy of Yaśodā.
त्वं विद्या त्वं महामाया त्वं लक्ष्मीस्त्वं सरस्वती 1.3.2.19.
You are knowledge, you are the great illusion, you are Lakshmi, you are Sarasvati.
महिषासुरयुद्धाय संतुष्टा निर्ययौ तदा
Then, pleased, she went forth to battle with Mahishasura.
प्रचंडमंडलाग्रेण भिंडिपालेन चामरम्
With a fierce circle and a club, she wielded a fly-whisk.
उग्रवक्त्रं कुठारेण शक्त्या विकटचक्षुषम्
With a terrible face, an axe, and a spear, her eyes were fearsome.
निहत्य महिषस्याग्रे सरोषं युध्यती स्वयम्
Having struck down, in front of Mahisha, she herself fought in anger.
अथात्यमर्षितो दुर्गां विशिखैर्महिषासुरः
Then, filled with intense wrath, Mahishasura attacked Durga with arrows.
ततो दुर्गाथ संरंभात्प्रजहारासुरेश्वरम्
Then Durga, enraged, seized the lord of the Asuras.
ततो दैत्यस्त्रिभिर्दुर्गां जघान विशिखैर्मुखे
Then the demon struck Durga in the face with three arrows.
एकेन सारथिं रथ्यानष्टभिः कार्मुकं त्रिभिः
With one arrow he struck the charioteer, with eight the chariot, and with three the bow.
पदातिरथ दैत्येंद्रः शतघ्नीं ज्वलदाकृतिम्
The lord of the demons, on foot and in a chariot, wielded a hundred-bladed, blazing weapon.
हाहाकुर्वस्तु देवेषु विद्राणे मातृमंडले 1.3.2.19.
The gods cried out in distress, and the circle of Mothers was terrified.
कृपाणमंकुशं पाशं भुशुंडीं करवालिकाम्
A sword, an elephant goad, a noose, a club, and a handful of weapons—
परश्वधं भिंडिपालं पट्टिशं लगुडं च सः
An axe, a club, a spear, and a mace—he (the demon) took up.
आपतंत्येव शस्त्राणि क्षिप्तान्यादाय वैरिणाम्
Weapons hurled by the enemies came rushing toward her as she seized them.
दुर्गोपवाह्यः सिंहोऽपि लांगूलाग्रेण मुद्रितम्
Even the lion, drawn near by Durgā, was marked with her tail's tip.
क्षणं सिंहः क्षणं क्रोडः क्षणं व्याघ्रः क्षणं गजः
For a moment a lion, for a moment a boar, for a moment a tiger, for a moment an elephant—
महिषोऽथ विषाणाभ्यां तीक्ष्णाभ्यामत्यमर्षितः
Then, as a buffalo, with sharp horns, he became exceedingly enraged.
क्षणं गगनमध्यस्थः क्षणं प्राप्तो महीतले
For a moment he was in the midst of the sky, for a moment he reached the earth.
प्रार्थिता मातृचक्रेण दुर्गा महिषदानवम्
Durgā, entreated by the circle of Mothers, attacked the buffalo-demon.
मुक्तघर्घरनिर्घोषो यावत्पतति दानवः
As the demon fell, a loud, roaring sound was released.
कंठपीडनतो यातजीवितस्यामरद्रुहः 1.3.2.19.
Strangled at the throat, the enemy of the immortals lost his life.
इति दुर्गया समिति कासरासुरे दलिते समस्तभुवनैककंटके
Thus, when Durgā destroyed the demon Kāśara, the sole thorn of all the worlds,
अहो दुरितहारिण्या दुर्गायाश्च पराक्रमः
Ah, what valor belongs to Durgā, the remover of misfortune!
एवं तया भद्रकाल्या निहते महिषासुरे
Thus, when Bhadrakālī slew the buffalo-demon,
ननाम गौरीमन्येन पाणिना खङ्गधारिणा
Gaurī bowed with another hand, the one holding the sword.
अथ हर्षेण नृत्यंतीं तामालोक्य दयार्द्रया
Then, seeing her dancing in joy, moved by compassion,
त्वयातिदुष्करं कर्म निर्मितं विंध्यवासिनि
By you, O dweller on Vindhya, a most difficult deed has been accomplished.
अथैतन्माहिषं शीर्षमपवित्र भयंकरम्
Now, take away this buffalo's head, impure and terrifying.